Happy New Year!
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Happy New Year!
Todd Zolecki
I hope everybody had a Happy New Year.
I've been taking some time off lately, which is why I haven't been posting on a daily basis. As much as I would love to continue posting daily during my vacation, not posting for a bit helps me keep my sanity for the season. Like Vince Vaughn said in Wedding Crashers, "I'd like to recharge my batteries and shut down the engines and get myself back to neutral." Or something like that. But here are a few things you might like to know (or not):
Phillies fans can watch Game 5 of the World Series at 7 tonight on Comcast SportsNet. CSN also debuts "The Perfect Season" at 7 p.m. tomorrow. The Phillies production is a 90-minute look at the 2008 season. Brad Lidge narrates.
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ESPN's SportsCenter breaks down every team's winter with a "Baseball Tonight Hot Stove" series, beginning tonight at 6 p.m with the Phillies.
Steve Phillips breaks down the Phillies.
Other dates Phillies fans might be interested in: Cubs (Sunday), Dodgers (Wednesday), Marlins (Thursday), Braves (Jan. 15), Yankees (Jan. 18), Nationals (Jan. 20) and Mets (Jan. 25).
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A little information about MLB Network, which debuted Jan. 1: former Phillies pitchers Mitch Williams and Dan Plesac will be in-studio analysts for MLB Tonight, the network's flagship show. Not sure where to find MLB Network? Go here and type in your zip code.
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Bodoglife.com gives the Phillies 11-1 odds to win the World Series in 2009. Here are the top six teams:
Yankees 5/2
Red Sox 11/2
Mets 7/1
Cubs 7/1
Rays 10/1
Phillies 11/1
haha is there a CHOKE valve in those numbers for the NY Mets— gulls3012
None of those teams ahead of the Phillies on that list bothers me....except for the Mets (of course). Wasn't anything learned in the last two seasons? Must it be proven again?— jayb773- Happy New Year, Todd! Ken Rosenthal wrote, on foxsports.com, that Pat will likely sign with the "evil" Mets. What's your take on that? Any truth to the rumor?— Norma
- It is Lowe who scares me if he signs with the Mutts. The Phils could really cement another big win if he signed with them as our 5th, nee 2nd starter with men moving down.The kids, I am afraid do not give me much comfort that they will provide 12-15 wins. Sorry, nothing in their past gives one much comfort. Lowe would , period. I actually hope Pat has no offers till Feb. 10 , then the Phils sign him for almost nothing to sit on the bench for chemistry, PH, and even give Raul a break when a lefty gets too much for ole Raul. A New Year's wish , anyhow.— KGKoons
- It's good to see that no matter what happens, people will always like the Mets better than the Phillies. It makes winning the division so much more fun, and really seems to motivate the team... ... ... I too would like to see the Phillies get involved in the Derek Lowe talks, if only to drive up the price for the Mets. I am curious to see how much money they really have to spend, since they keep saying they are financially fine, yet have not added a player since the $300-400M losses in the Bernard Madoff thing became public, and only signed K-Rod because they got him cheap, are low-balling Derek Lowe, and want no part of Manny, who they should really be looking into. Hmm... Besides, if the Phils made an offer, and the Mets stood pat, the "worst case scenario" is Derek Lowe accepts the Phillies offer, and they substantially improve the rotation while stealing the Mets most coveted starting pitcher right out from under their noses. Time to prove to the "Amazin's" that they are not only a second-class citizen in their hometown, but they are also still a second-class citizen in their own division as well.— RollinsWasRight
- Does the MLB Network gig mean that Wild Thing won't be with Comcast anymore??? Bummer! I love his honest in-put.— Norma
- welcome back zo and i love the wedding crashers quote. just wanted to add that steve phillips is a taint and i really hope pat doesnt sign with the muts. should he sign with the muts, i say we plunk him right in the back first time he comes up, just in spite. anyone see the mlb world series dvd part where jimmy calls out pat and then pat comes up and smacks that ball off the wall?? just wanted to see if anyone thought that was as awesome as i thought it was.— davemarsh
- If Pat Burrell thought he was given a hard time by the Phils' fans, wait till he gets to NY (if he signs with the Mets, of course). The fans in the stands at the Mets games foam at the mouth. I've seen it. They're like rabid dogs. I hope he does sign with them. I sure would rather face him than someone like Moises Alou (when he wasn't injured). Burrell is probably going to end up playing for the Reds. The Reds would like to have him hitting between Votto and Bruce. ZO, did you ever identify the topic which elicited the most comments in 2008?— jp
- I can't seem to find the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets or Cubs world series DVD anywhere. Must be sold out.— jimmymack
- jimmymack - priceless! Haha!— RollinsWasRight
- Happy New Year to everyone! Just finished watching Game 5 parts I & II. Such fun to watch even when you know the outcome. Glad to see the Wild Thing get the gig at MLB Network, but like Norma will miss his Phillies post-game analysis.— KarenA
- happy new year to one and all. FOrgive me for not being artound lately, I've been busy with the "mini war" out here. If Pat goes with teh Mutts we'll get to strike him out that many more times this season. I still think he either signs with us or goes to the AL as a DH. Stay warm and enjoy 2009. Prediction, we repeat, Eagles make next round, and the 6ers make the playoffs (Long shot I know, but hel, if I'm right, just think how good I'll look)— jeff gross
- Congrats to Wild Thing. He deserves it. Happy New Year to all and have no fear of the NY Mutts. Thanks again ZO for your info.— mick314
- jeff......Stay safe!— Norma
- Be safe, jeff.— RollinsWasRight
